South Carolina advanced to the SEC championship game for the first time, and the play of true freshman running back Marcus Lattimore was a major reason the Gamecocks won the SEC East.

The division title was the first of any kind since 1969 for the Gamecocks.

Because of his performance -- and his importance to South Carolina's offense -- Lattimore is the Rivals.com SEC freshman of the year. He was a highly hyped signee, and he lived up to billing. He is second in the league in rushing with 1,198 yards and has scored 17 rushing touchdowns. He had monster games against the Gamecocks' three biggest SEC foes -- 578 yards and six TDs in games against Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Our top defensive freshman is Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, like Lattimore a true freshman. Mosley is second on the Tide with 66 tackles and he also has two interceptions (both of which he returned for TDs) and eight pass breakups.

Rather then bypass some deserving candidates, we decided not to necessarily be position-specific (i.e., guards, tackles, ends, free safeties, etc.) on our all-freshman teams along the lines and in the secondary.